Explosive compound. 277 



(occasionally, but as the water with which it was in contact was 



undergoing rapid decomposition, it is not unlikely that these 



bubbles were not caused directly by the electric fluid, but by 



the hydrogen or oxigen liberated from the water, acting on the » 



compound. This source of ambiguity would be removed, if 



the compound could be electrised without its being in contact 



with any fluid ; but its extreme volatility presents an obstacle 



to such an arrangement, which we h^ve not yet surmounted. 



Having made a number of experiments for the purpose of Phenomena 



ascertaining generally the phenomena resulting from the contact pr0 J [ uc t ed f ty 



of various substances with the explosive compound, we have explosive 



made out the following table, in the first column of which are c° m P ouna \ 



,, . . ° i»,.i ,. and various 



stated the several substances employed, and in the second the substances. 



apparent effects of them on the compound. It is proper to 



remark, that water was always present in these experiments, 



the general method of making them having been to place a 



globule of the compound in a small iron ladle filled with water, 



and to bring the substance, whose action on it was to be tried, 



into contact with it at the bottom j but in those cases in which 



it was desirable to have as little water present as possible, we 



have substituted for the ladle a little paper filter, containing the 



compound and water, and allowed nearly all the water to drop 



through, before we added the substance to the compound. 



This was our mode of operating with ether, alcohol, &c. 



Table of the apparent Effects of certain Substances brought 

 into Contact with the explosive Compound. 



Substances brought into contact 

 with the compound. 



Mercury 



Copper .< t. -."« 



Tin .. .. 



Zinc 



Sulphur * 



Liquid sulphuretted hydro- 

 gen, or alcohol of sul- 



m P hur • • ■ 



Super Sulphuretted hydro- 

 gen formed by adding hy- 

 drogUretted sulphuret of 

 potash to muriatic acid. „ 



Effects observed. 



Slight effervescence, the me- Effects of sub- 



tal slowly tarnished. stances 



do. do. brought into 



tj „ contact with 



£ one ' the explosive 



None. compound. 

 None. 



None- 



Violent explosion. 





Do. 



